National Trust to sell house in 86 Hartley Street

The National Trust will put on the market the house in 86 Hartley Street (pictured above) but Les Hansen House will not be sold.

Trust president Trevor Horman AM says No 86 is “a magnificent example of an early 20th century Central Australian house designed by renowned architect Beni Burnett.

“The Trust has been proud to own and care for this property and it is this care as much as its location within the Alice Springs Heritage Precinct that gives the Trust confidence in its sale.” The property will be sold through an expression of interest process.

Mr Horman says in 2013 the trust developed “an appropriate management plan for each of the heritage places in the care of the Trust.

“The most important aspect of this management plan was that the properties must be sustainable into the future.

“Prior to 1991 and the advent of the Heritage Conservation Act, the best way to achieve this was most often through the continuing ownership of the National Trust.”

But new heritage legislation now provides comprehensive protection for all places on the Northern Territory Heritage Register.

Says Mr Horman: “The Trust now does not have to own property to ensure its heritage integrity is maintained, the legislation does that.

“Income from the sale of this property will be invested to assist the Trust in continuing to manage isolated and unique properties it owns throughout the Territory.

“For the most part these places are not sustainable without external financial support. The properties are the Stuart Town Gaol in Alice Springs, Tuxworth Fullwood House in Tennant Creek, Jones Store at Newcastle Waters, Pine Creek Railway Precinct and the Pine Creek Museum.”